STEVENAGE/TOULOUSE – Airbus has won two studies from the European Space Agency (ESA) to design a Sample Fetch Rover and an Earth Return Orbiter. These two elements will be critical parts of a mission to return samples of the planet Mars to Earth before the end of the next decade. NASA and ESA signed a letter of intent in April 2018 to pursue a Mars Sample Return mission. After launching to Mars in 2026, the Mars Sample Fetch Rover will retrieve Mars samples left by the Mars2020 … [Read more...] about Airbus wins two ESA studies for Mars Sample Return mission
European Space Agency
Airbus completes integration of Cheops satellite
MADRID – Airbus has completed the integration of Cheops (CHaracterising ExO Planet Satellite), the European Space Agency’s (ESA) first small mission satellite that will carry out an exciting scientific mission, to define the properties of the planets orbiting nearby stars. Cheops will study these planets using a Ritchey-Chrétien Telescope supplied by the University of Bern, in Switzerland. It was integrated last month at Airbus’ Madrid-Barajas site on the already-finished platform. … [Read more...] about Airbus completes integration of Cheops satellite
Inmarsat and ESA to modernise air traffic management over Europe
Inmarsat, the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications, has signed a major contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop satellite communication services that enable 4D trajectory air traffic management in European airspace from 2020. The Iris programme supports the Single European Skies ATM Research (SESAR) masterplan for next-generation air traffic management, which offers a strategic perspective of the critical developments that are required … [Read more...] about Inmarsat and ESA to modernise air traffic management over Europe
6th edition of DStv Eutelsat Star Awards
Johannesburg, Lagos, Paris - The winners of this year’s DStv Eutelsat Star Awards, the unique pan-African competition that encourages young minds to explore innovative thinking in science and space technology were announced in Nigeria. The sixth edition shows sustained interest from African learners’ aged 14 to 19, attracting over 1,000 entries from 20 countries. Levels of accuracy, creativity and originality were judged to be higher than ever before, both in the essay and poster … [Read more...] about 6th edition of DStv Eutelsat Star Awards
Airbus Defence and Space at ESA Ministerial Council meeting
Airbus Defence and Space, number two worldwide in space technologies, hails a series of decisions taken at European Space Agency (ESA) Ministerial Council meeting in Luxembourg that underline the member states’ support for, and commitment to safeguarding Europe’s continued independent access to space and its part in the world’s space adventure. “This summit will go down in history as a bold step forward for European Space. The decisions taken represents a new boost for … [Read more...] about Airbus Defence and Space at ESA Ministerial Council meeting
ESA commissions Airbus Defence and Space
Airbus Defence and Space, the world’s second space company, has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the development and construction of the service module for Orion, the future American human space capsule. The contract is worth around 390 million euros. The service module will provide propulsion, power supply, thermal control and the central elements of the life support system of the American capsule. The contract was signed in Berlin (Germany), in the presence of … [Read more...] about ESA commissions Airbus Defence and Space